What does the return of Martin O’Neill mean for Rangers? | OneFootball

Rangers fans of a certain vintage will remember Martin O’Neill’s first spell as Celtic manager, when he essentially put Dick Advocaat in his place. The Dutch revolution was stuttering and MON came into Celtic, and bought a bunch of man mountains who could play football. They bullied the life out of Rangers. Martin O’Neil’s Rangers impact was significant.

He understood immediately what Scottish football would take, just like Walter Smith. Big strong guys who could play.

And the rest was history after that.

He was irritating as hell on the touchline, the leaping leprechaun that infuriated Rangers fans. But he was unfortunately exceptionally good and turned Parkhead into a fortress. Had Celtic’s away form in the Champions League matched what it was at home, they’d probably have won the competition.

And now the wee gnat is back.

Interim, yes, but he already knows what it takes to win in the league in Scotland, and hate them or loathe them, that lot’s board made a shrewd move to get him back.

He’s 73 now, but he will have plenty energy for this.

What does it mean for Rangers?

Well Celtic will 100% get new manager bounce – it’s not ideal timing for Rangers for the semi-final coming up.

And if he gets the reaction he wants and gets the January window, he may just rebuild Celtic into what they had 25 years ago.

Which would batter Rangers because our board and managers never seem willing to go Walter old school style and build the kind of Rangers that can win football matches.

It’s certainly interesting times, and we’ve not even touched on the scathing Dermond statement at Rodgers yet…

‘But ah foat this wiz a Rangurz site….’

Like it or not, this kind of stuff does matter to the blue half of the city. Martin O’Neil’s Rangers impact.

And watching the east meltdown is always entertaining.